Jonathan Arkush says he will not seek re-election as Board of Deputies president

He added that he had “gone a long way” towards achieving the aims he had set out when he was elected in 2015, including enhancing the Board’s status and campaigning against extremists.

Jonathan Goldstein, chair of the Jewish Leadership Council, paid tribute to the Board leader.

He said: "Jonathan Arkush has dedicated himself to the UK Jewish community, to strengthening our ties with other diaspora communities and to Israel. As president of the Board of Deputies, he has played a most valuable role as an advocate and campaigner for a wide range of Jewish causes and organisations. For that, and for his service, we all owe him a debt of gratitude. 

Mr Goldstein added: “During my time as JLC Chair, I have built a relationship of trust and mutual respect with Jonathan with the hope of bringing the Board and JLC closer together. We have gone on a journey together over these last few months and I look forward to continuing down that path with his successor. I wish Jonathan only the best.”